Dallas Mom Admits Killing Kids Because They were Autistic

A suburban Dallas mother is accused of killing her two children, reportedly telling a 911 operator that she did it because they were autistic, and that she wanted "normal kids."

Saiqa Akhter allegedly attacked her children in the family's apartment in Irving Monday night. In a 911 call released Wednesday, she said she first tried to poison them, and then choked them with a wire until they stopped moving.

Akhter is charged with capital murder in the death of her 5-year-old son, Zain. Charges are pending in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Faryaal, police spokesman David Tull said.

In the recording, the woman identified herself as Saiqa Akhter and repeatedly told the operator she killed her two children. At one point, the woman hung up and the dispatcher called her back.

"I killed both of them. I told you," she told the operator. "They are not doing anything. They are just blue and they are not taking any breaths and their heart is not beating."

When the operator asked the woman why she did it, she said, "They're both not normal, not normal. They're autistic. Both are autistic." Pressed further, she said, "I don't want my children to be like that. I want normal kids."

Later, the dispatcher asked the woman what she was feeling. "Nothing," she responded.

Akhter's uncle, Wasimul Haque, told The Dallas Morning News his niece had been depressed since moving into a new apartment in Irving. Haque said Zain had autism and a severe speech impediment but had been improving and was in speech therapy.